March Neale-Wade Academy is in the middle of a two week event aimed at helping 250 primary pupils move smoothly to secondary school in September.

The Academy, part of the Active Learning Trust, is in the second week of its ‘Secondary School Experience’, which aims to demystify the transition from primary to secondary school for both Yr6 pupils and their parents.

The same group of pupils have spent the last 12 months learning about secondary school, with various open evenings and parent and form tutor meetings. The two week experience at Neale-Wade will immerse the pupils in a secondary school environment, whilst ensuring that they have support from their current teachers and are with their peers.

“The primary to secondary transition is notorious as having the potential to create a gap in attainment where pupils undergo a period of readjustment,” said Transition Coordinator Hilary Copeland, who organised the event.

“We hope that this year-long programme, culminating in the two week Secondary School Experience, will help pupils to adjust before they start secondary school, therefore decreasing or avoiding this gap and allowing pupils to reach their full potential.”

Pupils from 17 local schools will have lessons such as English, maths, history, art, science and IT, as well as break-out sessions discussing their secondary school aspirations, learning styles and participating in teambuilding activities.

“This really is an event for the whole community,” said Aynsley Welling, Head of School at Neale-Wade. “We’re working with primary schools within and outside of our catchment area; the idea is that any kind of secondary school experience, be it with the school they end up going to or otherwise, is going to be beneficial to these pupils.”

The programme ends today (Friday), following which pupils will be able to enjoy their last two weeks of primary school before the summer break.

“This event at Neale-Wade is a great example of schools in the same community working together for the good of the pupils,” said Gary Peile, Chief Executive of the Active Learning Trust, which sponsors the Academy.

“I look forward to seeing some of these students form part of the new Yr7 cohort at Neale-Wade in September.”